Relax Your Body
Advice from Dr Catherine Hood:
"Many hours hunched over a desk can leave your body as stressed as your mind. So here are some tips to ensure you're physically (as well as mentally) fit for your exams.
It's common for tension to manifest itself in the body. When you're stressed
your muscles tighten, particularly those around the shoulders, so here's a way
to release the tension that can gather.
Find a quiet room where you won't be disturbed, lie on the floor and close
your eyes. Breathe deeply in slowly through your nose to really fill your lungs.
Hold your breath for a count of three then let the air out slowly through your
mouth. Repeat this three times. When you breathe out imagine all the tension in
your body flowing out with the air.
Next, work through the body and tighten the muscle groups one by one. Start
at the feet and screw up your toes as hard as you can. Hold for a count of three
and relax. Flex your ankles, hold for three and relax then clench the muscles in
your calf and so on. Work on each group of muscles in turn all the way up to
your shoulders.
When you have mastered the technique you can just focus on the muscles that
are feeling tight. You can relax them anywhere; sitting on the sofa, at your
desk or even on the bus, whenever you notice the tension starting to gather.
If you find it difficult to switch off your mind whilst relaxing, try using a
relaxation tape. You can buy one or even better, make one yourself. Record a few
of your favourite calming tracks and play them while you relax. Better still,
record your voice giving the instructions to clench and release your muscles.
That way you don't even have to think, you just follow the instructions.
For the finishing touch, light some aromatherapy candles in your room, or
burn some incense sticks, but check with the others in your house first because
he smell can really linger.
If all this sounds too 'new age' for you here's another suggestion to beat
the body stress: get up from your chair, out of the house, meet some mates and
play a hard game of football. Top it off with a long hot soak in the bath - mmmm
perfect... ZZZZZZZ!"
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